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WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008  Servicemembers transiting through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, near Washington, D.C., now have a new area to spend time between flights after the recent dedication of a new United Service Organizations lounge.

Military and government leaders participate in a ribbing-cutting ceremony to officially open the new United Service Organizations lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on May 8, 2008. From left are: Bill Fairl, of CACI; Paul Maladrino, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport manager; David Speck, of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; Jon Love, with Pitney Bowes; Virginia Sen. Patsy Ticer; Ned Powell, with USO; Bobby Sturgell, with the Federal Aviation Administration; John Marselle; Robbins Gioia, chairman of the USO of Metropolitan Washington; and Deborah Mullen. Photo courtesy by USO of Metropolitan Washington(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

This newly relocated lounge, which began offering services in March, provides a home away from home for traveling servicemembers and their families. It offers active-duty military personnel, National Guardsmen, reservists, Merchant Marines, and their families a variety of free amenities.

Lounge visitors can enjoy high-definition TV with a movie library of current feature films, a fully-stocked snack bar, wireless Internet access, and domestic and international calling courtesy of Verizon.

“Offering these free services gives us a chance to say thank you to those who sacrifice so much for our country,” said Elaine Rogers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington. “We are so lucky to have such dedicated sponsors who have enabled us to provide these lounges.”

This lounge, like all USO lounges was made possible by the generosity of corporate sponsors. URS Corporation, Turner Construction, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and corporate partners Verizon, CACI and Pitney Bowes all contributed to making the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport USO lounge possible.

USO of Metropolitan Washington dedicated the new lounge May 8. Senior leaders from the military and government, including Bobby Sturgell, acting administrator of the FAA, and Virginia Sen. Patsy Ticer, performed the ribbon cutting ceremony.

USO is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families stationed at home and abroad.